On 19 March 2021, the Church will celebrate five years since the publication of Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation Amoris Laetitia (The Joy of Love) on the beauty and joy of love in the family. On that day, Pope Francis will launch a year dedicated to the family which will conclude on 26 June 2022 on the occasion of the Tenth World Meeting of Families in Rome.
The Irish Bishops will mark the beginning of the ‘Amoris Laetitia Family Year’ with a Week of Prayer from 13 March to 19 March (the Feast of Saint Joseph). The Bishops’ Council for Marriage and the Family has prepared the attached resource to assist with the celebration of the Week of Prayer. This resource comprises a page for each day of the Week of Prayer which can be easily followed in parish, school and at home. Each day has a theme reflecting on family life through the lens of Saint Joseph. The resource has at its centre the prayer from Pope Francis which he wrote for the Year of Saint Joseph and some inspiring reflections from The Joy of Love (Amoris Laetitia).